Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Rustin is a historical drama about civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and how he organized the 1963 March on Washington.
The story begins in 1960, with Rustin (Colman Domingo) putting together a protest in Los Angeles and asking Martin Luther King, Jr. (Aml Ameen) to lead it. This is a protest the NAACP is against, and they use the known fact that Bayard is a homosexual and good friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. to put an end to their plans. It works.
Cut ahead to 1963 and Bayard is working at a job he does not enjoy. His lover, Tom Kahn (Gus Halper), insists Bayard become active in the civil rights movement again. That evening, Bayard comes up with the idea for the March on Washington. And the rest of the film tells the story of how it came to be.
Some Thoughts:
The pacing, acting, and look of Rustin are perfect. Director George C. Wolfe understands his subject and how to tell a compelling and thought-provoking story.
While the entire cast of Rustin are wonderful, Colman Domingo stands out. Domingo is commanding as political activist Bayard Rustin, a man living on his terms. And Chris Rock, who steps out of his comedic comfort zone, gives a solid performance as Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Rustin does not stray from its subject’s homosexuality. While Bayard fights to make the March on Washington come to light, he’s faced with the reality of being a gay man in a society that criminalizes homosexuals. The film does a good job balancing the two movements while showing how much they have in common.
Bayard and Tom’s relationship is introduced without calling attention to it. While it appears that the two are in a committed relationship, Bayard often sees other men. And while Tom is fine with the situation, it becomes problematic when Rustin gets involved with Elias Taylor (Johnny Ramey), an activist and preacher married to Claudia (Adrienne Warren).
Elias is wooed by Bayard’s charismatic appeal, and the two form a bond. They see each other often, and Elias gets lost in the fun. It isn’t until Elias sees a gay bar being raided, and its patrons arrested, that the reality of his situation hits. It’s a sobering moment in the film and a reminder of how far we’ve come.
The Final Verdict:
Rustin is an inspiring and compelling story. Everything about it–the look, pacing, acting, sound–are spot on. Rustin is a must-see film.
